Bacterial leaf blight of Rice is caused by

Options

A. Erwinia
B. Xanthomonas
C. Pseudomonas
D. Alternaria

Answer

**Step-by-Step Solution:**

1. **Understanding the Disease**: Bacterial leaf blight is a disease that affects rice plants, leading to significant agricultural losses.

2. **Identifying Symptoms**: The disease is characterized by symptoms such as wilting, drying, and yellowing of the leaves. As the disease progresses, the leaves may develop linear yellow to straw-colored stripes along their edges.

3. **Transmission**: The primary infection is often carried through infected seeds, which means that the disease can spread from one crop to another via the seeds used for planting.

4. **Progression of the Disease**: As the disease advances, the affected leaves may dry out, twist, and eventually die, leading to reduced yield in rice crops.

5. **Identifying the Causative Agent**: The causative agent of bacterial leaf blight in rice is identified as a specific bacterium. The options provided include:
- Irvinia
- Xanthomonas
- Pseudomonas
- Alternaria

6. **Correct Identification**: The correct answer is **Xanthomonas oryzae**, which is a gram-negative, aerobic, capsulated bacterium responsible for causing bacterial leaf blight in rice.

7. **Conclusion**: Therefore, the correct answer to the question is **Xanthomonas**.

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